Podcasts about Baker Institute

Hablamos en Washington D.C. con la periodista Dori Toribio; en Houston con el director del Programa de Energía de América Latina del Baker Institute, Francisco Monaldi, y en San Juan con Pedro Reina, profesor de la Universidad de Puerto Rico

 Part 1: Venezuela's Oil: How It Powered The World & What Went WrongOnce one of the world's richest oil producers, Venezuela's rise seemed unstoppable. We look at how politics, power struggles and global pressure led to the complete breakdown of this South American country. As the consequences still unfold, will Venezuela and its oil industry make a comeback in this globally unstable environment?Guest: Skip York, nonresident fellow for global oil, The Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University.Host: Gary PriceProducer: Amirah Zaveri What Children Already Know - And How Parents Can RespondKids today are absorbing far more than many adults realize - often before anyone has explained what it all means. We look at how parents can meet these moments with clarity, honesty, and care, even when the right words don't come easily.Guest: Dr. Elena Lister, child, adolescent & adult psychiatrist, faculty, Columbia University and Cornell University, author of Giving Hope.Host: Marty PetersonProducer: Amirah Zaveri Viewpoints Explained: Why Nuclear Power Is Making A ComebackOnce seen as too risky and politically fraught, nuclear power is being reexamined as energy demand rises and supply chains grow less reliable. We explain why more countries, including the U.S., are warming back up to an option they once tried to leave behind.  Host: Ebony McMorrisProducer: Amirah Zaveri   Culture Crash: The Movies We're Waiting To See In 2026A new movie year is taking shape and expectations are already high. We cover some of what we're most looking forward to this year.  Host:  Evan RookProducer: Evan Rook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Part 1: Venezuela's Oil: How It Powered The World & What Went WrongOnce one of the world's richest oil producers, Venezuela's rise seemed unstoppable. We look at how politics, power struggles and global pressure led to the complete breakdown of this South American country. As the consequences still unfold, will Venezuela and its oil industry make a comeback in this globally unstable environment?Guest: Skip York, nonresident fellow for global oil, The Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University.Host: Gary PriceProducer: Amirah Zaveri Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode explores the extraordinary start to 2026 following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by US forces and his subsequent transport to stand trial in New York. Host Rory Johnston is joined, once again, by Francisco Monaldi of Rice University's Baker Institute to analyze the new "remote control" era of Venezuelan governance. The discussion details the installation of Delcy Rodríguez as interim president and her complex role as a pragmatist navigating the revolution's survival under intense US pressure. Listeners will gain insights into the immediate market impact of 30 to 50 million barrels of stored oil being rerouted from the Chinese black market to the U.S. Gulf Coast. The conversation also examines the long-term challenges of rebuilding an industry that requires up to $100 billion and a decade of stability to reach its former peak production. Monaldi breaks down the legal and operational shifts necessary for American "wildcatters" and majors like Chevron to safely ramp up activity within the country's dilapidated infrastructure. Finally, the episode reflects on a "new market order" where geopolitical vibes and discretionary policy decisions increasingly dictate global crude flows.

In hour 1 of The Mark Reardon Show, Mark and the crew discuss what is next for the Reardon Roundtable now that Jane Dueker is working with Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway. Mark is then joined by Charles Lipson, a Professor Emeritus at the University of Chicago. He discusses his thoughts on the Minneapolis ICE Shooting, the revolution occurring in Iran and if the US should get involved & more. He's later joined by Former US Senator from Missouri Jim Talent. He shares his thoughts on the revolution occurring in Iran, what is next for Venezuela and the United States' involvement in it and more. In hour 2, Sue hosts, "Sue's News" where she discusses the latest trending entertainment news, this day in history, the random fact of the day and more. Mark is then joined by Bill King, a Research Fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute. He shares his thoughts on Minnesota suing the Department of Homeland Security, more on the ICE shooting and more. He's later joined by KSDK Sports Director Frank Cusumano who discusses the College Football and NFL Playoff games, the Blues extending Philip Broberg and more. In hour 3, Mark is joined by Curtis Houck, the Managing Editor of News Busters at the Media Research Center. He discusses the liberal media coverage of the Minneapolis ICE shooting. He's later joined by Missouri State Senator Nick Schroer. He discusses the first full week of the new Session being underway as well as what his top priorities are. They wrap up the show with the Audio Cut of the Day.

In this segment, Mark is joined by Bill King, a Research Fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute. He shares his thoughts on Minnesota suing the Department of Homeland Security, more on the ICE shooting and more.

In hour 2, Sue hosts, "Sue's News" where she discusses the latest trending entertainment news, this day in history, the random fact of the day and more. Mark is then joined by Bill King, a Research Fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute. He shares his thoughts on Minnesota suing the Department of Homeland Security, more on the ICE shooting and more. He's later joined by KSDK Sports Director Frank Cusumano who discusses the College Football and NFL Playoff games, the Blues extending Philip Broberg and more.

The decision by the U.S. President Donald Trump administration to seize Venezuelan President Nicholás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, to stand trial in the United States reflects the administration's willingness to undertake a muscular intervention in the Western Hemisphere. Delcy Rodríguez, who served as Maduro's vice president since 2018, has taken over as the interim president and seems to be on an uncertain path forward working with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. However, Trump's statement that the United States plans to “run” Venezuela until a permanent, stable transition can be realized raises more questions than it answers, in Venezuela and about U.S. foreign policy at large.  What precisely are the Trump administration's objectives in Venezuela? Was this a law enforcement operation or a serious effort to create a new political reality in Venezuela? Who are the key Venezuelan players the United States needs to engage and what is the role of the Venezuelan military? And what are the administration's intentions toward the Venezuelan oil industry and the role of American companies? Join Aaron David Miller as he engages the International Crisis Group's Phil Gunson, the Baker Institute's Francisco Monaldi, and Johns Hopkins SAIS's Cindy Arnson on these and other issues, on the next Carnegie Connects. 

Tensions between Venezuela and the U.S. have been growing over the past few months. And last Wednesday, the pressure point was oil. The U.S. government seized a tanker it says was filled with illegal oil headed to the black market, in violation of sanctions.The seizure was an unprecedented move. And it represents an escalation in the standoff between the two countries. In recent months, the U.S. has struck nearly two dozen suspected drug boats in nearby waters, issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela, and increased its naval presence in the Caribbean.The U.S. has long had economic and political interests in Venezuela. And the oil industry there has been a key part of that relationship. Francisco Monaldi, director of the Latin American Energy Program at the Baker Institute at Rice University, explains how the two nations got to this point.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.  Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Ava Berger and Alejandra Marquez Janse, with audio engineering by Tiffany Vera Castro. It was edited by Sarah Handel. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Trump Administration has gotten increasingly aggressive in its relations with Nicholas Maduro's government in Venezuela, accumulating a historic volume of US military capability in the Caribbean and cancelling a raft of oil sector operating licenses. Whether or not this leads to outright regime change, it seems like we are on the precipice of something major occurring on Venezuela.What could all of this mean for Venezuela's chronically challenged but stupendously high potential oil industry? To help me explore this question, I'm joined today by Dr Francisco Monaldi, the director of the Latin America Energy Program and the Wallace S Wilson Fellow in Latin American Energy Policy at the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. Fransisco has spent decades chronicling and analyzing Venezuela's oil sector and brings a very welcome and encyclopedia body of knowledge to bear in our conversation.

From the “Baker Briefing” podcast: A water crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border is growing. The 1944 Water Treaty has long guided how both nations share the Rio Grande and Colorado rivers, but climate change, drought, and growing demand are testing its limits. Guest host Tony Payan speaks with Rosario Sanchez, a senior research scientist at the Texas Water Resources Institute, and Ivonne Cruz, a research scholar at the Baker Institute, about how to rethink water cooperation for an age of scarcity — and what it will take to build a more resilient future for both countries. Featured guests: Ivonne Cruz, Ph.D., https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/ivonne-cruz Rosario Sanchez, Ph.D., https://twri.tamu.edu/rosario-sanchez/   Mentioned in this episode: Mexico Country Outlook 2026, Rice University's Baker Institute, https://www.bakerinstitute.org/research/mexico-country-outlook-2026 More about Tony Payan, Ph.D.: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/tony-payan Follow Tony Payan on X (@PayanTony) and LinkedIn. You can follow @BakerInstitute and @BakerInstMexico on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

Annelle Sheline is a research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. She previously served as a Foreign Affairs Officer at the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor's Office of Near Eastern Affairs (DRL/NEA), before resigning in March 2024 to protest the Biden administration's unconditional support for Israeli military operations in Gaza. She is a senior non-resident fellow at the Arab Center of Washington DC and a non-resident fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. She holds a PhD in political science from George Washington University. She has written for Foreign Affairs, The Washington Post, The Nation, Foreign Policy, and The New Republic, and has appeared on the BBC, CNN, CBS, and Al Jazeera

Gender by the Book: 21st-Century French Children's Literature (Routledge, 2025) investigates the gender representations that French children's literature transmits to readers today. Using an interdisciplinary, mixed methods approach, this book grounds its literary analysis in a sociohistorical examination of three key institutions – libraries, book clubs, and subscription magazines – that circulate reading material to children. It shows how French policies, cultural beliefs, and market forces influence the content of children's literature, including tensions between State support for unprofitable artistic endeavors and a belief in children's right to high-quality products on the one hand, and suspicion of activism as anathema to creativity and fear of losing boy readers on the other. In addition, the notion of universalism, which asserts that equality is best achieved when society is blind to differences, thwarts a diverse and equitable array of literary representations. Nevertheless, conditions are favorable for 21st-century French children's publishers to offer a robust body of richly entertaining egalitarian literature for children. Guest Julie Fette, author of Gender by the Book: 21st-Century French Children's Literature published in October 2024 by Routledge. Dr. Fette is Associate Professor of French Studies at Rice University where she is also Rice Faculty Scholar at the Center for the Middle East, Baker Institute and a Faculty Affiliate with the Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality. She is also the author of Exclusions: Practicing Prejudice in French Law and Medicine, 1920-1945 from Cornell University Press in 2012 and the co-author of the textbook Les Français from Hackett in 2021, as well as numerous articles and book chapters on subjects from gender and professional life in France to teaching French studies in the classroom and online.  Host Gina Stamm is Associate Professor of French at The University of Alabama. Their research is concentrated on the environmental humanities and speculative literatures of the 20th and 21st centuries, from Surrealism to contemporary science fiction and feminist utopias, in Metropolitan France and the francophone Caribbean.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Gender by the Book: 21st-Century French Children's Literature (Routledge, 2025) investigates the gender representations that French children's literature transmits to readers today. Using an interdisciplinary, mixed methods approach, this book grounds its literary analysis in a sociohistorical examination of three key institutions – libraries, book clubs, and subscription magazines – that circulate reading material to children. It shows how French policies, cultural beliefs, and market forces influence the content of children's literature, including tensions between State support for unprofitable artistic endeavors and a belief in children's right to high-quality products on the one hand, and suspicion of activism as anathema to creativity and fear of losing boy readers on the other. In addition, the notion of universalism, which asserts that equality is best achieved when society is blind to differences, thwarts a diverse and equitable array of literary representations. Nevertheless, conditions are favorable for 21st-century French children's publishers to offer a robust body of richly entertaining egalitarian literature for children. Guest Julie Fette, author of Gender by the Book: 21st-Century French Children's Literature published in October 2024 by Routledge. Dr. Fette is Associate Professor of French Studies at Rice University where she is also Rice Faculty Scholar at the Center for the Middle East, Baker Institute and a Faculty Affiliate with the Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality. She is also the author of Exclusions: Practicing Prejudice in French Law and Medicine, 1920-1945 from Cornell University Press in 2012 and the co-author of the textbook Les Français from Hackett in 2021, as well as numerous articles and book chapters on subjects from gender and professional life in France to teaching French studies in the classroom and online.  Host Gina Stamm is Associate Professor of French at The University of Alabama. Their research is concentrated on the environmental humanities and speculative literatures of the 20th and 21st centuries, from Surrealism to contemporary science fiction and feminist utopias, in Metropolitan France and the francophone Caribbean.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies

Gender by the Book: 21st-Century French Children's Literature (Routledge, 2025) investigates the gender representations that French children's literature transmits to readers today. Using an interdisciplinary, mixed methods approach, this book grounds its literary analysis in a sociohistorical examination of three key institutions – libraries, book clubs, and subscription magazines – that circulate reading material to children. It shows how French policies, cultural beliefs, and market forces influence the content of children's literature, including tensions between State support for unprofitable artistic endeavors and a belief in children's right to high-quality products on the one hand, and suspicion of activism as anathema to creativity and fear of losing boy readers on the other. In addition, the notion of universalism, which asserts that equality is best achieved when society is blind to differences, thwarts a diverse and equitable array of literary representations. Nevertheless, conditions are favorable for 21st-century French children's publishers to offer a robust body of richly entertaining egalitarian literature for children. Guest Julie Fette, author of Gender by the Book: 21st-Century French Children's Literature published in October 2024 by Routledge. Dr. Fette is Associate Professor of French Studies at Rice University where she is also Rice Faculty Scholar at the Center for the Middle East, Baker Institute and a Faculty Affiliate with the Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality. She is also the author of Exclusions: Practicing Prejudice in French Law and Medicine, 1920-1945 from Cornell University Press in 2012 and the co-author of the textbook Les Français from Hackett in 2021, as well as numerous articles and book chapters on subjects from gender and professional life in France to teaching French studies in the classroom and online.  Host Gina Stamm is Associate Professor of French at The University of Alabama. Their research is concentrated on the environmental humanities and speculative literatures of the 20th and 21st centuries, from Surrealism to contemporary science fiction and feminist utopias, in Metropolitan France and the francophone Caribbean.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/education

Gender by the Book: 21st-Century French Children's Literature (Routledge, 2025) investigates the gender representations that French children's literature transmits to readers today. Using an interdisciplinary, mixed methods approach, this book grounds its literary analysis in a sociohistorical examination of three key institutions – libraries, book clubs, and subscription magazines – that circulate reading material to children. It shows how French policies, cultural beliefs, and market forces influence the content of children's literature, including tensions between State support for unprofitable artistic endeavors and a belief in children's right to high-quality products on the one hand, and suspicion of activism as anathema to creativity and fear of losing boy readers on the other. In addition, the notion of universalism, which asserts that equality is best achieved when society is blind to differences, thwarts a diverse and equitable array of literary representations. Nevertheless, conditions are favorable for 21st-century French children's publishers to offer a robust body of richly entertaining egalitarian literature for children. Guest Julie Fette, author of Gender by the Book: 21st-Century French Children's Literature published in October 2024 by Routledge. Dr. Fette is Associate Professor of French Studies at Rice University where she is also Rice Faculty Scholar at the Center for the Middle East, Baker Institute and a Faculty Affiliate with the Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality. She is also the author of Exclusions: Practicing Prejudice in French Law and Medicine, 1920-1945 from Cornell University Press in 2012 and the co-author of the textbook Les Français from Hackett in 2021, as well as numerous articles and book chapters on subjects from gender and professional life in France to teaching French studies in the classroom and online.  Host Gina Stamm is Associate Professor of French at The University of Alabama. Their research is concentrated on the environmental humanities and speculative literatures of the 20th and 21st centuries, from Surrealism to contemporary science fiction and feminist utopias, in Metropolitan France and the francophone Caribbean.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/french-studies

Gender by the Book: 21st-Century French Children's Literature (Routledge, 2025) investigates the gender representations that French children's literature transmits to readers today. Using an interdisciplinary, mixed methods approach, this book grounds its literary analysis in a sociohistorical examination of three key institutions – libraries, book clubs, and subscription magazines – that circulate reading material to children. It shows how French policies, cultural beliefs, and market forces influence the content of children's literature, including tensions between State support for unprofitable artistic endeavors and a belief in children's right to high-quality products on the one hand, and suspicion of activism as anathema to creativity and fear of losing boy readers on the other. In addition, the notion of universalism, which asserts that equality is best achieved when society is blind to differences, thwarts a diverse and equitable array of literary representations. Nevertheless, conditions are favorable for 21st-century French children's publishers to offer a robust body of richly entertaining egalitarian literature for children. Guest Julie Fette, author of Gender by the Book: 21st-Century French Children's Literature published in October 2024 by Routledge. Dr. Fette is Associate Professor of French Studies at Rice University where she is also Rice Faculty Scholar at the Center for the Middle East, Baker Institute and a Faculty Affiliate with the Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality. She is also the author of Exclusions: Practicing Prejudice in French Law and Medicine, 1920-1945 from Cornell University Press in 2012 and the co-author of the textbook Les Français from Hackett in 2021, as well as numerous articles and book chapters on subjects from gender and professional life in France to teaching French studies in the classroom and online.  Host Gina Stamm is Associate Professor of French at The University of Alabama. Their research is concentrated on the environmental humanities and speculative literatures of the 20th and 21st centuries, from Surrealism to contemporary science fiction and feminist utopias, in Metropolitan France and the francophone Caribbean.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gender by the Book: 21st-Century French Children's Literature (Routledge, 2025) investigates the gender representations that French children's literature transmits to readers today. Using an interdisciplinary, mixed methods approach, this book grounds its literary analysis in a sociohistorical examination of three key institutions – libraries, book clubs, and subscription magazines – that circulate reading material to children. It shows how French policies, cultural beliefs, and market forces influence the content of children's literature, including tensions between State support for unprofitable artistic endeavors and a belief in children's right to high-quality products on the one hand, and suspicion of activism as anathema to creativity and fear of losing boy readers on the other. In addition, the notion of universalism, which asserts that equality is best achieved when society is blind to differences, thwarts a diverse and equitable array of literary representations. Nevertheless, conditions are favorable for 21st-century French children's publishers to offer a robust body of richly entertaining egalitarian literature for children. Guest Julie Fette, author of Gender by the Book: 21st-Century French Children's Literature published in October 2024 by Routledge. Dr. Fette is Associate Professor of French Studies at Rice University where she is also Rice Faculty Scholar at the Center for the Middle East, Baker Institute and a Faculty Affiliate with the Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality. She is also the author of Exclusions: Practicing Prejudice in French Law and Medicine, 1920-1945 from Cornell University Press in 2012 and the co-author of the textbook Les Français from Hackett in 2021, as well as numerous articles and book chapters on subjects from gender and professional life in France to teaching French studies in the classroom and online.  Host Gina Stamm is Associate Professor of French at The University of Alabama. Their research is concentrated on the environmental humanities and speculative literatures of the 20th and 21st centuries, from Surrealism to contemporary science fiction and feminist utopias, in Metropolitan France and the francophone Caribbean.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/popular-culture

In 2006, the Masdar City project was launched in the United Arab Emirates. Supported by $22 billion in state-funding, it aimed to be the world's most sustainable city. Situated 6km away from Zayed International Airport, neighbouring a Formula 1 racetrack and golf course, Abu Dhabi's eco-utopia is full of contradictions.Bertie discusses why oil-rich Gulf states like UAE and Saudi Arabia are investing in sustainability with Gökçe Günel, Associate Professor in Anthropology at Rice University. Gökçe is the author of Spaceship in the Desert: Energy, Climate Change, and Urban Design in Abu Dhabi, published in 2019 by Duke University Press. Further reading: Inside COP28: A Participant's Take on Climate Diplomacy Efforts in Dubai, Gökçe Günel, Baker Institute, 2024 Horizons, Gökçe Günel, e-flux Architecture, 2022Spaceship in the Desert: Energy, Climate Change, and Urban Design in Abu Dhabi, Gökçe Günel, Duke University Press, 2019  Click here for our website to read all our most recent Land and Climate Review features and pieces.

In this segment, Mark is joined by Bill King, a Research Fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute, a Former Businessman and Lawyer, and a Former Opinion Columnist and Editorial Board Member at the House Chronicle. He discusses his latest piece in Real Clear Politics which is headlined, "Extending the ACA Subsidies".

In hour 3, Mark is joined by Tim Graham, the Executive Editor for the Media Research Center's Newsbusters. They discuss CNN hosting a Town Hall on the Government Shutdown, the media's coverage of the Middle East Peace Deal and more. Mark is then joined by Bill King, a Research Fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute, a Former Businessman and Lawyer, and a Former Opinion Columnist and Editorial Board Member at the House Chronicle. He discusses his latest piece in Real Clear Politics which is headlined, "Extending the ACA Subsidies". He wraps up the show with the Audio Cut of the Day.

In hour 1 of The Mark Reardon Show, Mark is joined by Rocky Sickmann, a former Iranian hostage and US Marine. He is also the Director of Anheuser-Busch's accounts for Folds of Honor. He shares his thoughts on the 20 hostages being released from Gaza. He is then joined by Asra Nomani, a Senior Fellow at the Independent Women's Network and the Founder of the Pearl Network. She shares her thoughts on the Middle East Peace Deal, the return of the Israeli hostages and more. In hour 2, Sue hosts, "Sue's News" where she discusses the latest trending entertainment news, this day in history, the random fact of the day and more. He's later joined by Jamie Reed, the whistleblower from Washington University's Pediatric Transgender Center and the Executive Director of the LGB Courage Coalition. She reacts to being called a liar by John Oliver. In hour 3, Mark is joined by Tim Graham, the Executive Editor for the Media Research Center's Newsbusters. They discuss CNN hosting a Town Hall on the Government Shutdown, the media's coverage of the Middle East Peace Deal and more. Mark is then joined by Bill King, a Research Fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute, a Former Businessman and Lawyer, and a Former Opinion Columnist and Editorial Board Member at the House Chronicle. He discusses his latest piece in Real Clear Politics which is headlined, "Extending the ACA Subsidies". He wraps up the show with the Audio Cut of the Day.

The economy is in a precarious situation. Could a prolonged shutdown send the economy tumbling over the edge? We talk with John Diamond, Senior Director of the Center for Tax and Budget Policy at Rice University's Baker Institute.

In this segment, Mark is joined by Bill King, a Research Fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute. He discusses his latest piece in Real Clear Politics which is headlined, "How Many Immigrants Have Left the Country?"

In hour 1, Mark is joined by Brian Kilmeade, the Co-Host of Fox and Friends and the Host of One Nation with Brian Kilmeade and The Brian Kilmeade Show. He discusses Jimmy Kimmel's return from suspension and the comments made in his first show back. He's later joined by Bill King, a Research Fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute. He discusses his latest piece in Real Clear Politics which is headlined, "How Many Immigrants Have Left the Country?"

In hour 1, Mark is joined by Brian Kilmeade, the Co-Host of Fox and Friends and the Host of One Nation with Brian Kilmeade and The Brian Kilmeade Show. He discusses Jimmy Kimmel's return from suspension and the comments made in his first show back. He's later joined by Bill King, a Research Fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute. He discusses his latest piece in Real Clear Politics which is headlined, "How Many Immigrants Have Left the Country?" In hour 2, Sue hosts, "Sue's News" where she discusses the latest trending entertainment news, this day in history, the random fact of the day, and much more. Alex Rich joins for the hour to discuss his newest gig, share a puppy update, and discuss the scary moment that occurred in baseball last night. In hour 3, Mark is joined by Curtis Houck, the Managing Editor of News Busters at the Media Research Center. He discusses Jimmy Kimmel's return to airwaves following his suspension from ABC and more. He's then joined by Thomas Helbig to discuss the Retirement Advisory Group's final Retirement Key Seminar of 2025. Mark is later joined by Jessica LeMaster, a Certified Special Education Advocate in St. Charles County. She shares her story of how the district is mistreating a student with disabilities. They wrap up the show with the Audio Cut of the Day.

On Tuesday's show: In the years 2022 to 2024, the percentage of children without health insurance made its highest increase in almost a decade, according to a Georgetown University report. And Texas continues to have the highest percentage of uninsured children in the nation. We discuss what this means for the state with Elena Marks of Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.Also this hour: So far this year, it has been an awfully quiet hurricane season. We explore why as we chat with Houston Chronicle meteorologist Justin Ballard.Then, singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell joins us in studio to perform and discuss his new album, Airline Highway. Crowell will appear at an in-store event at Cactus Music today at 5:30.And we preview the 2025 Gay Softball World Series, which takes place in Houston Sept. 21-27. We discuss what the tournament means for the city, for the athletes taking part, and for their fans.Watch

This June, Mexico held its first-ever nationwide judicial elections to determine the justices who would serve at the state and local levels throughout the country, and even on the Supreme Court itself. In an overall confusing affair, the vote drew just 13 percent turnout, while nearly a quarter of the few ballots that were cast were spoiled or left blank. But the chaos of the election is likely only a prelude, as the victors begin to take office a major shakeup in Mexico's legal system is on the horizon.  In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Arturo Sarukhan, Senior Advisor with the CSIS Americas Program and Javier Martín Reyes, Nonresident Scholar at the Center for the United States and Mexico at the Baker Institute and a Researcher at the Legal Research Institute at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Together, the three discuss the state of institutional checks and balances in Mexico, future challenges to rule of law, and the options for companies to deal with an increasingly politicized judicial system. They also explore how direct election of judges may create new avenues for co-optation by organized crime.

In the latest episode of NGI's Hub & Flow podcast, NGI's Christopher Lenton, managing editor of Mexico, sits down with Rice University's Francisco Monaldi, director of the Latin America Energy Program at the Baker Institute.    Together, they dive into the energy policy paradox in the United States, where the push for energy dominance is colliding with market realities, triggering ripple effects across global oil and gas markets.    Monaldi, a leading Latin America energy expert, outlines the challenges for Mexico's Pemex, which faces a perfect storm of soaring debt, crumbling production, and regulatory barriers that are stifling investment and threatening Mexico's energy future. While there are faint signs of progress through service contracts and potential projects tapping unconventional resources, Lenton and Monaldi explore why these efforts won't be enough to reverse Pemex's downward trajectory and dependence on U.S. natural gas imports.

Artificial intelligence is quickly transforming the educational landscape.  AI offers immersive learning experiences, opportunities for enhanced engagement, and increased accessibility for students in the classroom.  Listen as Dr. Ann Lê discusses how AI is changing education and how school systems can learn to embrace this technology.   This podcast is made possible by generous funding from the Sheppard Spouses' Club. To learn more, visit https://sheppardspousesclub.org/.   Audio mixing by Concentus Media, Inc., Temple, Texas.   Show Notes: Resources:   AI Tools:   Khanmigo https://www.khanmigo.ai/   Magic School https://www.magicschool.ai/   Eduaide https://www.eduaide.ai/   Gradescope https://www.gradescope.com/   Curipod https://curipod.com/   Speechify https://speechify.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooh4FHBTOh4GidnMpckbi5XKM8sfkHS4qwRUI_cZoU4_mEPx11X   Bio: Dr. Ann H. Lê is a visionary Special Education Consultant and advocate with over two decades of service and leadership in education. Through her consulting practice, Lê Consulting, she partners with families, educators, and institutions to improve outcomes for students with disabilities by offering expert guidance in areas such as behavior intervention, inclusive practices, and compliance.   Her career spans a wide range of roles, including special education teacher, educational diagnostician, ARD facilitator, behavior specialist, and Assistant Director of Special Education, each grounded in a deep commitment to equity, access, and student-centered practices.    Dr. Lê holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education from Sam Houston State University, as well as a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Neuroscience, Pre-Law, and Pre-Medicine from Baylor University. In addition to her academic credentials, Dr. Lê is a certified Principal as Instructional Leader and Educational Diagnostician, and holds multiple Texas educator certifications, including in English as a Second Language (ESL), General Education, and Special Education.   A published author and sought-after speaker, Dr. Lê has presented on topics ranging from restorative practices and mental health to school discipline and leadership. She serves on several doctoral dissertation committees and advisory boards, including those at Sam Houston State University and Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges education, public policy, and health, making her a trusted voice across sectors.   In recognition of her impact, Dr. Lê was named the 2023 Distinguished Educator of the Year by Sam Houston State University, where she also served as the honored commencement speaker. While she currently serves as Manager of the Highly Mobile and At-Risk Student Programs Unit at the Texas Education Agency—overseeing initiatives such as the Military-Connected Students Program and Purple Star Campus Designation—her insights on this podcast reflect her personal and professional experiences as an educator.   Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed during this session are solely those of Dr. Ann H. Lê and do not represent the stance of the Texas Education Agency.

What's the difference between religious privilege and religious freedom? How does Christian nationalism spread? Why do so many ideas that start in Texas expand to other parts of the country? On this podcast, we bring you a special panel discussion on Christian nationalism in the Texas public sphere, recorded live on April 8. It features BJC Executive Director (and Respecting Religion co-host) Amanda Tyler, scholar David Brockman, professor Mark Chancey, and journalist Robert Downen. Moderated by Jack Jenkins, it was part of an all-day event focused on telling the story of religion in Texas through journalism, hosted by the Texas Tribune in partnership with Religion News Service, the Institute for Diversity and Civic Life, and Southern Methodist University's Religious Studies department.   SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:33): Introducing today's show and the panelists Learn more about the Texas Tribune's April 8 event titled “Telling the story of religion in Texas through journalism” on the website of the Texas Tribune. The website page dedicated to the event includes YouTube videos of each speaker and panel presentation.  The day-long event was held in partnership with the Texas Tribune, Religion News Service, the Institute for Diversity and Civic Life, and Southern Methodist University's Religious Studies department.   Segment 2 (starting at 02:51): Panel presentation You can watch a video of this presentation on YouTube, including a Q&A following the conversation. The panelists are: Amanda Tyler, executive director of BJC (Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty), lead organizer of Christians Against Christian Nationalism, and co-host of this podcast Dr. David Brockman, a non-resident scholar in religion and public policy at Rice University's Baker Institute who also serves as an adjunct professor at Texas Christian University Dr. Mark Chancey, professor of religious studies at SMU Robert Downen, senior writer at “Texas Monthly”  The moderator is Jack Jenkins, national reporter at Religion News Service. NOTE: After this panel was recorded, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott did sign legislation requiring every Texas public school classroom to display the Ten Commandments. Read more in this piece by Sameea Kamal for the Texas Tribune: Texas will require public school classrooms to display Ten Commandments under bill signed by governor Amanda and Holly talked about the Texas Bible curriculum in episode 2 of this season: Oklahoma and Texas try to force Bible teaching in public schools Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. Your gift to BJC is tax-deductible, and you can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

Tony Payan joined David Satterfield, director of Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy and host of the “Baker Briefing” podcast, to discuss the challenges Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, is facing — both domestically and in its relationship with the United States.   This conversation was recorded on May 14, 2025. You can subscribe to “Baker Briefing” wherever you get your podcasts. More about Tony Payan, Ph.D.: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/tony-payan Follow Tony Payan on X (@PayanTony) and LinkedIn. Learn more about our annual Mexico Country Outlook report and conference, happening Oct. 16, 2025, at Rice University: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/mco  You can follow @BakerInstitute and @BakerInstMexico on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

Today we had the pleasure of hosting our good friend Dr. Ken Medlock, Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and Senior Director of the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University's Baker Institute. Ken joined the Rice University faculty in 2004 and holds adjunct professor appointments in the Department of Economics and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, in addition to serving as director of the Master of Energy Economics program. He is also a Distinguished Fellow at the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan, and a sought-after voice on Capitol Hill, at OPEC, and in the media. The Baker Institute plays a key role in shaping energy policy debates in both the U.S. and globally and we were thrilled to welcome Ken to hear his latest insights on today's evolving energy landscape. In our discussion, we explore oil market dynamics and pricing, Middle East geopolitical complexity, Kuwait's production expansion plans, U.S. policy, including how recent grant eliminations impact the economics of carbon capture projects, as well as the importance of distinguishing short-term volatility from long-term energy strategy. We review the current state of carbon capture technology, with high costs remaining a significant barrier, the potential long-term opportunity to convert captured CO2 into valuable products, the potential impact of rolling back EPA emission rules on future generation mix, and how strong electricity demand growth will require all types of generation to meet future needs. Ken shares his perspective on the importance and challenges of coordination across U.S. energy agencies, the critical importance of supply chain resilience, how geopolitical risk premiums shape oil markets, and potential market impact if Iran advances its nuclear capabilities. We cover potential disruptions to energy flow through the Strait of Hormuz, the roles of the U.S. and Israel in Middle East tensions, OPEC+'s decision to accelerate production, low global inventories, and the Baker Institute's growth and expansion across ten programs. We also touch on the interconnectedness of energy and other sectors, the need to re-educate on supply chain dynamics, the intersection of energy infrastructure and disaster preparedness, evolving student interest in energy at Rice, and much more. It was a fantastic and wide-ranging conversation spanning many critical aspects of energy today. Mike Bradley kicked off the show by noting that the S&P 500 has rallied back to within 2% of its all-time high, while the S&P 500 Volatility (VIX) is hovering near YTD lows, which is a dangerous combination. U.S. equity markets appear to be largely driven by the ups/downs of Trump's “Big Beautiful Budget Bill” and tariff negotiations. On the bond side, the U.S. 10-year bond yield (4.45%) has traded sideways so far this week, but that could shift quickly given that several key economic reports are on deck this week, which also could go a long way in determining what the FED does at their June 18th FOMC Rate Decision Meeting. From a crude oil market standpoint, WTI price has recently surged to ~$65/bbl which has caught oil traders by surprise. The front-end of the WTI curve is trading in backwardation, while the back end of the curve is in contango, mostly due to a substantial global S/D surplus that's expected beginning in Q4'25. Last week, OPEC+ agreed to raise July production by ~0.4mmbpd (total 3mo production increase of ~1.2mmbpd), but these “stated” production increases are much higher than “actual” barrels that have entered the market, which is beginning to raise questions around OPEC's “real” spare production capacity. He further noted that Canadian wildfires, Iran nuclear deal delays, and the plunge in U.S. oil rig count (~40 rigs) over the last two months have all combined to move WTI price higher. He ended by highlighting that the EIA released its Short-Term Energy Outlook report this week, which forecasted that U.S. cru

What if better health relied more on our environment than on doctors or medication? Elena Marks challenges conventional health care perspectives by emphasizing the non-medical drivers of health, like access to nutritious food and safe environments. Her work at the Baker Institute aims to reallocate health dollars towards these factors. Marks advocates for a system where investing in these areas takes precedence for better and cost-effective health outcomes. Key Questions Answered 1. What are non-medical drivers of health, and why are they considered to have a greater impact on health outcomes than medical care itself? 2. Can you tell us about the Baker Institute for Public Policy and your role there? 3. What are some of the focus areas within the Center for Health Policy at the Baker Institute? 4. How do programs like "Food is Medicine" work to address health outcomes? 5. Why is it more effective and cost-efficient to address environmental factors such as mold in asthma patients' homes rather than just providing medical treatment? 6. What is the status of Medicaid expansion in Texas, and what population does this currently exclude? 7. Who does get Medicaid in Texas, and how is that coverage limited? 8. How has the Affordable Care Act (ACA) affected health coverage in Texas, particularly for the uninsured? 9. What are some potential risks to the Affordable Care Act's benefits, such as enhanced subsidies and navigator funding? 10. Looking to the future, what does Elena Marks envision as a goal for a healthier healthcare system in the U.S.? Timestamped Overview 00:00 Rethinking Health: Beyond Medicine 06:32 Addressing Non-Medical Health Factors 08:23 Prioritize Environmental Solutions for Asthma 13:49 Medicaid Expansion Benefits Vulnerable Groups 16:15 Insurance Mandates and Marketplaces 18:07 Patient Plan Transition Challenges 22:09 Funding Cuts Threaten Insurance Navigators 25:02 "Social Spending Boosts Health" Support The Rose HERE. Subscribe to Let’s Talk About Your Breasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Tuesday's show: While some things about the City of Houston's financial situation have improved over the last year, the city still faces some significant financial challenges, according to its latest financial report. Analysts from the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University reviewed that report and share what they found.Also this hour: Matt Lanza from Space City Weather talks about a growing trend in weather forecasting: too much hype.Then, investigative reporter Lise Olsen talks about her book, The Scientist and the Serial Killer. It details how scientists have used new technology and methods to identify the remains of most of the long-unidentified victims of Houston serial killer Dean Corll.And an upcoming concert from Houston's Mercury Chamber Orchestra combines the upbeat rhythms of Venezuelan Joropo music and the classical style of Bach.

Gun violence has surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of death among children and teens in the US. What can we do to improve firearm safety to keep children safe from preventable injury and death? In this episode we are joined by Dr. Amy Barnhorst, director of the BulletPoints Project, to discuss the impact of gun violence on children including on their mental health, the media’s influence, and what families can do to improve firearm safety including safe gun storage. This episode written by Drs. Barnhorst, van der List and Blumberg. We thank Dr. Amy Barnhorst, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UC Davis Health, Vice Chair of Community Mental Health, and Director of the BulletPoints Project, for joining us for this episode, although Drs. Dean and Lena take responsibility for any errors or misinformation. Additional resources: The BulletPoints Project Healthy Children Guns in the Home: How to Keep Kids Safe Photo courtesy of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy Gun violence has surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of death among children and teens in the US. What can we do to improve firearm safety to keep children safe from preventable injury and death? In this episode we are joined by Dr. Amy Barnhorst, director of the BulletPoints Project, to discuss the impact of gun violence on children including on their mental health, the media’s influence, and what families can do to improve firearm safety including safe gun storage. This episode written by Drs. Barnhorst, van der List and Blumberg. We thank Dr. Amy Barnhorst, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UC Davis Health, Vice Chair of Community Mental Health, and Director of the BulletPoints Project, for joining us for this episode, although Drs. Dean and Lena take responsibility for any errors or misinformation. Additional resources: * The BulletPoints Project Healthy Children Guns in the Home: How to Keep Kids Safe Photo courtesy of

Tony Payan, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the Center for the United States and Mexico at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. His most recent book is, “U.S.-Mexico Relations: Structuring Alternative Futures.”  The US-Mexico relationship is very complicated in the areas of climate, migration, security and trade. Mexico is the US's largest trading partner with trade at almost $850 billion a year.  Candidate Donald Trump threatened to put a 200% tariff on John Deere tractors produced in Mexico. Generally, any tariff will be paid by the customer and raise the purchase price, increase the inflation rate and could lead to a Smoot-Hawley international recession or depression, whereas selective tariffs can be helpful in some cases.  Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum does not have a strong team; whereas Donald Trump may have the same problem, or a brain drain of expertise, if he fires more than 50,0000 knowledgeable professional public administrators. 

This episode has three chapters. Each one answers a key question, and, bottom line, it all adds up to action steps directly and indirectly for many, including plan sponsors probably, community leaders, and also hospital boards of directors. Here's the three chapters in sum. For a full transcript of this episode, click here. If you enjoy this podcast, be sure to subscribe to the free weekly newsletter to be a member of the Relentless Tribe. Chapter 1: Are commercial insurance premiums rising faster than the inflation rate? And if so, is the employee portion of those premiums also rising, meaning a double whammy for employees' paychecks (ie, premium costs are getting bigger and bigger in an absolute sense, and also employees' relative share of those bigger costs is also bigger)? Spoiler alert: yes and yes. Chapter 2: What is the biggest reason for these premium increases? Like, if you look at the drivers of cost that underpin those rising premiums, what costs a lot that is making these premiums cost a lot? Spoiler alert: It's hospitals and the price increases at hospitals. And just in case anyone is wondering, this isn't, “Oh, chargemasters went up” or some kind of other tangential factor. We're talking about the revenue that hospitals are taking on services delivered has gone up and gone up way higher than the inflation rate. In fact, hospital costs have gone up over double the amount that premiums have gone up. Wait, what? That's a fact that Dr. Vivian Ho said today that threw my brain for a loop: Hospital costs have gone up over double the amount that premiums have gone up. Chapter 3: Is the reason that hospital prices have rocketed up as they have because the underlying costs these hospitals face are also going up way higher than the inflation rate? Like, for example, are nurses' salaries skyrocketing and doctors are getting paid a lot more than the inflation rate? Stuff like this. Too many eggs in the cafeteria. Way more charity care. Bottom line, is an increase in underlying costs the reason for rising hospital prices? Spoiler alert: no. No to all of the above. And I get into this deeply with Dr. Vivian Ho today. But before I do, I do just want to state with three underlines not all hospitals are the same. But yeah, you have many major consolidated hospitals crying about their, you know, “razor-thin margins” who are, it turns out, incentivizing their C-suites to do things that ultimately wind up raising prices. I saw a PowerPoint flying around—you may have seen it, too—that was apparently presented by a nonprofit hospital at JP Morgan, and it showed this nonprofit hospital with a 15.1% EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) in 2024. Not razor thin in my book. It's a, the boards of directors are structuring C-suite incentives in ways that ultimately will raise prices. If you want to dig in a little deeper on hospital boards and what they may be up to, listen to the show with Suhas Gondi, MD, MBA (EP404). Vivian Ho, PhD, my guest today, is a professor and faculty member at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine. Her most major role these days is working on health policy at Baker Institute at Rice University. Her work there is at the national, state, and local levels conducting objective research that informs policymakers on how to improve healthcare. Today on the show, Professor Vivian Ho mentions research with Salpy Kanimian and Derek Jenkins, PhD. Alright, so just one quick sidebar before we get into the show. There is a lot going on with hospitals right now. So, before we kick in, let me just make one really important point. A hospital's contribution to medical research, like doing cancer clinical trials, is not the same as how a hospital serves or overcharges their community or makes decisions that increase or reduce their ability to improve the health and well-being of patients and members who wind up in or about the hospital. Huge, consolidated hospital networks can be doing great things that have great value and also, at the exact same time, kind of harmful things clinically and financially that negatively impact lots of Americans and doing all of that simultaneously. This is inarguable. Also mentioned in this episode are Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy; Baker Institute Center for Health Policy; Suhas Gondi, MD, MBA; Salpy Kanimian; Derek Jenkins, PhD; Byron Hugley; Michael Strain; Dave Chase; Zack Cooper, PhD; Houston Business Coalition on Health (HBCH); Marilyn Bartlett, CPA, CGMA, CMA, CFM; Cora Opsahl; Claire Brockbank; Shawn Gremminger; Autumn Yongchu; Erik Davis; Ge Bai, PhD, CPA; Community Health Choice; Mark Cuban; and Ferrin Williams, PharmD, MBA. For further reading, check out this LinkedIn post.   You can learn more at Rice University's Center for Health Policy (LinkedIn) and Department of Economics and by following Vivian on LinkedIn.   Vivian Ho, PhD, is the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics, a professor in the Department of Economics at Rice University, a professor in the Department of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, and a nonresident senior scholar in the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics. Ho's research examines the effects of economic incentives and regulations on the quality and costs of health care. Her research is widely published in economics, medical, and health services research journals. Ho's research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the American Cancer Society, and Arnold Ventures. Ho has served on the Board of Scientific Counselors for the National Center for Health Statistics, as well as on the NIH Health Services, Outcomes, and Delivery study section. She was elected as a member of the National Academy of Medicine in 2020. Ho is also a founding board member of the American Society for Health Economists and a member of the Community Advisory Board at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. Ho received her AB in economics from Harvard University, a graduate diploma in economics from The Australian National University, and a PhD in economics from Stanford University.   05:12 Are insurance premiums going up? 05:59 What is the disparity between cost of insurance and wage increases? 06:21 LinkedIn post by Byron Hugley. 06:25 Article by Michael Strain. 06:46 How much have insurance premiums gone up for employers versus employees? 09:06 Chart showing the cost to insure populations of employees and families. 10:17 What is causing hospital prices and insurance premiums to go up so exponentially? 12:53 Article by (and tribute to) Uwe Reinhardt. 13:49 EP450 with Marilyn Bartlett, CPA, CGMA, CMA, CFM. 14:01 EP452 with Cora Opsahl. 14:03 EP453 with Claire Brockbank. 14:37 EP371 with Erik Davis and Autumn Yongchu. 15:28 Are razor-thin operating margins for hospitals causing these rising hospital prices? 16:56 Collaboration with Marilyn Bartlett and the NASHP Hospital Cost Tool. 19:47 What is the explanation that hospitals give for justifying these profits? 23:16 How do these hospital cost increases actually happen? 27:06 Study by Zack Cooper, PhD. 27:35 EP404 with Suhas Gondi, MD, MBA. 27:50 Who typically makes up a hospital board, and why do these motivations incentivize hospital price increases? 30:12 EP418 with Mark Cuban and Ferrin Williams, PharmD, MBA. 33:17 Why is it vital that change start at the board level?   You can learn more at Rice University's Center for Health Policy (LinkedIn) and Department of Economics and by following Vivian on LinkedIn.   Vivian Ho discusses #healthinsurance #premiums and #hospitalpricing on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #changemanagement #healthcareleadership #healthcaretransformation #healthcareinnovation   Recent past interviews: Click a guest's name for their latest RHV episode! Chris Crawford (EP465), Al Lewis, Betsy Seals, Wendell Potter (Encore! EP384), Dr Scott Conard, Stacey Richter (INBW42), Chris Crawford (EP461), Dr Rushika Fernandopulle, Bill Sarraille, Stacey Richter (INBW41)  

In February, “México Centered” host Tony Payan joined three other Baker Institute experts to explore President Donald Trump's plans to impose tariffs on Mexican, Canadian, and Chinese goods and what they mean for U.S. industries and consumers — as well as our relationships with our largest trading partners. The conversation was moderated by John Diamond, director of the Baker Institute Center for Tax and Budget Policy. This episode was originally recorded in front of a live studio audience on Feb. 6, 2025, for the “Baker Briefing” podcast.  Follow @BakerInstMexico on X, LinkedIn, and Bluesky. Subscribe to the “US-Mexico Update,” delivered monthly, at bakerinstitute.org/newsletters.

Dr. Michelle Foss breaks down the intricate web of energy transition, what it means for the future of resources, and the role of the U.S. in the global mining landscape. Don't miss this deep dive into a critical topic!Time Stamps 00:58 - Episode & Guest Intro 02:32 - Dr. Foss' Background and Career Journey 08:32 - Historical Context of Energy and Mining 14:19 - Challenges in Modern Energy Projects 17:09 - Global Supply Chains and Material Dependencies 21:47 - Realities of Energy Transition Costs 25:20 - Voter Sentiments and Policy Implications 27:14 - Commercial Viability of Energy Projects 29:34 - Future of Energy and Land Management 33:31 - Technological Innovations and Industry Improvements 34:01 - Applying Technology to Alternative Energy 35:01 - Nanotube Fibers and Wind Turbines 36:33 - Challenges in Electric Power Grids 37:58 - Global Supply Chains and China's Role 41:41 - Mining and Mineral Production in the U.S. 48:32 - Future of U.S. Mining Projects 59:08 - Episode OutroHelp us improve our podcast! Share your thoughts in our quick survey.Snippets from the Episode "The whole idea that you could do this and the energy transition would be cheap was probably bad advertising because it's not, it's expensive. -Dr. Michelle Foss “We've been saying for years the wind and solar businesses need to grow up for crying out loud.” -Dr. Michelle Foss  ”Renewable, I hate that word because nothing is renewable.” -Dr. Michelle Foss  ”What a lot of people have come to realize is that that magical phrase, energy transition, you don't get that unless you have a materials transition.” -Dr. Michelle FossResources Need Help With A Project? Meet With Dudley Need Help with Staffing? Connect with Dudley Staffing Streamline Your Title Process with Dudley Select Title Watch On Youtube Follow Dudley Land Co. On LinkedIn Have Questions? Email usMore from Our Guest Visit the Baker Institute website Dr. Michelle Foss' Biography Baker Institute on LinkedInMore from Our Hosts Connect with Brent on LinkedIn Connect with Khalil on LinkedIn

Annelle Sheline is a research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. She previously served as a Foreign Affairs Officer at the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor's Office of Near Eastern Affairs (DRL/NEA), before resigning in March 2024 to protest the Biden administration's unconditional support for Israeli military operations in Gaza. She is a senior non-resident fellow at the Arab Center of Washington DC and a non-resident fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. She holds a PhD in political science from George Washington University. She has written for Foreign Affairs, The Washington Post, The Nation, Foreign Policy, and The New Republic, and has appeared on the BBC, CNN, CBS, and Al Jazeera.

The Center for the United States and Mexico at Rice University's Baker Institute stays abreast of the many issues affecting the binational relationship–including some issues that are not as intuitive and are often not in the media. One of these is artificial intelligence. To explore what AI can do to the U.S.-Mexico relationship - in academia, security, cybersecurity, and labor - we sat down with Chris Bronk, a nonresident fellow at the Baker Institute and an associate professor at the University of Houston, where he directs the graduate cybersecurity program; and Alejandro Dabdoub, Mexican investor, businessman and writer.   For more information on the Baker Institute Center for the United States and Mexico visit our website, and follow us on X/Twitter and LinkedIn. To join our mailing list, please subscribe here and make sure to opt-in to "U.S.-Mexico Update."

Mexico's sweeping overhaul of the country's court system took effect last month, in the final weeks before President López Obrador handed the keys of the National Palace to his mentee and successor, President Claudia Sheinbaum. Mexico is now one of the few countries in the world that elects its judges, including at the Supreme Court level, by popular vote, rather than by appointment. This widely controversial move has led to protests by the federal judiciary, as well as criticism by the United States, Mexico's top trading partner.   What exactly does the overhaul entail, and what's next? Back on the podcast to discuss are Javier Martín Reyes, a researcher and professor at UNAM, the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and David Gantz, the Baker Institute's Will Clayton Fellow in Trade and International Economics.   For more information on the Baker Institute Center for the United States and Mexico visit our website, and follow us on X/Twitter and LinkedIn. To join our mailing list, please subscribe here and make sure to opt-in to "U.S.-Mexico Update."

Carolyn Baker of the General Baker Institute shares her passion for preserving the legacy of her father, General Gordon Baker, Jr., and her mother's advocacy, while also honoring other legends in the fight for Black social justice. The General Baker Institute (GBI) is dedicated to providing educational courses, programs, and activities for the community, with a focus on young people. It examines the revolutionary life of General Baker (September 6, 1941 - May 18, 2014), his contributions to human rights struggles, and his co-founding of transformative organizations. As a center for teaching the history of Detroit and Highland Park, GBI critically explores their connection to global social movements while addressing contemporary issues. In the interview, Carolyn reflects on how her father's love of basketball shaped her own passion for coaching, and she highlights GBI's innovative educational approaches, such as their first Educational Fashion Show, which combines fashion and political education to make bold statements and inspire change. Detroit is Different is a podcast hosted by Khary Frazier covering people adding to the culture of an American Classic city. Visit www.detroitisdifferent.com to hear, see and experience more of what makes Detroit different. Follow, like, share, and subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Sticher. Comment, suggest and connect with the podcast by emailing info@detroitisdifferent.com Find out more at https://detroit-is-different.pinecast.co Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/detroit-is-different/dff87c50-b908-417d-98c3-2ff14472eefe

Liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) technology has enabled the United States to become the world’s largest exporter of natural gas in recent years, boosting our allies’ energy security and our own domestic economy and trade balance. Some estimates show that U.S. LNG export capacity will almost double over the next several years as facilities currently under construction come online. But LNG has met opposition from those concerned about its environmental impacts – including the Biden Administration, which announced a “pause” on approvals of LNG exports earlier this year.The clash has made its way into the courts: In July 2024, a federal trial judge stayed the administration’s policy, and in August, the D.C. Circuit rescinded FERC’s previous authorization of two LNG projects on the Texas coast due to alleged deficiencies in its environmental analysis. Our panel of experts will discuss these recent policies and rulings, along with the broader implications of American LNG for energy security and international environmental efforts.Featuring: Gabriel Collins, Baker Botts Fellow in Energy & Environmental Regulatory Affairs, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice UniversitySpencer Churchill, Associate, Winston & Strawn LLPModerator: Daniel G. West, Director, SCF Partners

International trade has flourished in recent decades. In the U.S., which is both the world's largest importer and exporter of goods and services, trade has lowered the costs of everyday goods, raised the living standard, and fueled job growth. But it has also eliminated some jobs, mostly in manufacturing. As a result, support for free trade has declined. Today, American policymakers are embracing industrial policies, which are designed to promote specific sectors, especially manufacturing, in a way not seen since the 1980s. President Biden's “Buy American” policies are a prime example of this. How can we rebuild trust in trade and use it to ensure that the U.S. remains competitive globally? In this episode we sit down with C.J. Mahoney, former deputy U.S. trade representative and chief U.S. negotiator for the USMCA, in 2020, and David Gantz, the Baker Institute's Will Clayton Fellow in Trade and International Economics. We explore major challenges on the horizon for U.S. trade policy, including the upcoming review of the USMCA in 2026 and the rising influence of China. For video of the event "Election Insights: The Future of US Trade Policy," visit: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/event/election-insights-future-us-trade-policy For more information on the Baker Institute Center for the United States and Mexico visit our website, and follow us on X/Twitter and LinkedIn. To join our mailing list, please subscribe here and make sure to opt-in to "U.S.-Mexico Update."

Rice University's Michelle Foss, Ph.D. gives us a crash course in critical minerals: what they are, where they come from, why we need them, and their geostrategic implications. We look at the future of deep-sea mining to harvest the vast resources laying on the sea floor. And we talk about the rapidly developing tech of carbon nanotubes, which are on the verge of revolutionizing everything from battery capacity to airplanes (and, of course, make the Batman suit a reality). Michelle Foss, Ph.D., is the fellow in energy, minerals & materials at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, helping to build capacity on non-fuel minerals supply chains. She has more than 40 years of experience in senior positions in energy (oil, gas/LNG, electric power) and environmental research, consulting and investment banking, with early career exposure to mining and mined land reclamation.

Today we were thrilled to welcome back Dr. Francisco Monaldi, Director of the Latin America Energy Program, along with his colleague Dr. Tony Payan, Director of the Center for the U.S. and Mexico, with Rice University's Baker Institute. Francisco last joined us on COBT in December 2022 (episode linked here) and is an expert on Latin American energy, policy, and economics. In addition to his role at the Baker Institute, Tony is a Professor of Social Sciences at the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez and his research focuses primarily on border studies and US-Mexico relations. It was our pleasure to visit with Francisco and Tony for a Mexico and Latin America energy and geopolitics focused discussion. In our conversation, we examine President Claudia Sheinbaum's recent election, her background as a climate scientist and former Mayor of Mexico City, concerns about her independence and potential influence from former President Andres Manual Lopez Obrador (AMLO), violence in the recent election, implications for democracy and governance, regional perspectives on Mexico's political trajectory, and the potential future direction of Mexico's energy policies under President Sheinbaum. Francisco and Tony share their perspectives on Mexico's decline in energy production, Mexico as a huge consumer of US (especially Texas) natural gas, the broader implications of nearshoring for US-Mexico relations, renewable energy and climate policy, and the importance of future energy policies for economic stability. We discuss Mexico's economic challenges, broader Latin American trends, the potential impact of President AMLO's policies if they persist for another decade, upcoming changes to the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the role of US diplomacy and political leverage in shaping Mexico's policies, the need for a comprehensive framework addressing trade, immigration, and crime, and much more. It was an enlightening discussion and we are thankful to Francisco and Tony for sharing their insights with us all. Mike Bradley kicked us off by highlighting that this week is crucial for bonds, with the June CPI and FOMC Rate Decision on Wednesday potentially confirming or dispelling speculation about a 2024 Fed rate cut. On the crude oil front, WTI has rallied back to ~78/bbl after last week's overselling post-OPEC meeting due to production cut confusion/uneasiness. OPEC's June Monthly Oil Report (linked here) showed unchanged global oil demand estimates for 2024 and 2025, while the IEA's global oil demand estimates (~1.0mmbpd below OPEC's) will be released Wednesday. The 12-month natural gas strip has rallied to ~$3.50/MMBtu (highest since Nov '23) driven by extreme heat forecasted through the month of June which might begin to influence current sizable E&P production curtailments. In Europe, several equity markets sold off, and EU bond yields spiked, notably in France, due to heightened political risk from the EU Parliamentary vote. Conservatives fared better than expected and Green Parties lost significant seats in Belgium, France, Germany and Italy, which could put future climate goals/policies at risk. He ended by noting US equity money flows, usually directed towards Emerging/International markets for diversification, are either stagnant or reduced due to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq's outperformance driven by AI and Tech equities. Jeff Tillery noted there has been significant news about the Mexican stock market's performance with Mexico and Brazil underperforming over the past one and three years, influenced by factors such as border issues, higher interest rates, post-election impacts, and cartel problems, but that Mexico's reshoring trend suggests potential gains. We hope you find the discussion as insightful and interesting as

Norman Baker was an entrepreneur, a pioneering radio personality, and a fake doctor. He was a masterful propagandist, and through his radio station and multiple tabloid publications, he manipulated American anxieties about everything from politics to alleged ills of vaccinations. But his biggest claim was that he could cure cancer, in just six weeks, with his own elixir -- and your money.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.